Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time 8th February 2026
Anniversary & Month’s Mind Masses
Mass will be offered for the following people on the occasion of an Anniversary or Month’s Mind. We remember them, their families and loved ones in our prayers.
Sunday 8th February 10.00am Patrick Doherty
Sunday 8th February 12Noon Patsy Farren
Monday 9th February 7.30pm Marjorie Scarlett
Tuesday 10th February 7.30pm Patrick McDaid
Wednesday 11th February 10.00am Elma McMonagle
Wednesday 11th February 7.30pm Charlotte Mullan
Thursday 12th February 7.30pm Anna McIntyre
Friday 13th February 10.00am Sarah Rogers
Friday 13th February 7.30pm Tony Horner
Saturday 14th February 6.00pm Johnny Boy McGowan & Kevin McGowan
Rest In Peace: We extend our sincere sympathy to the family and friends of; Marie Kelpie- Thistlewood Park & Gearoid Fox- Formerly Belfield Park, Stella McDaid- Foyle Park
Baptisms: We Welcome into the family of God: Naoise Hasson. To book a Baptism please contact the Parish office on 028-71262301 during office hours or email longtower@derrydiocese.org.
Parish Baptismal Dates: Please note Saturday Baptisms are at 3.30pm.
The next available Baptism date is 25th April 2026
Visitation of the Sick at Home & in Hospital. For urgent sick calls to those at home please contact the parish office 02871262301. For urgent sick calls for those in hospital, please ask duty nurse on the ward to call hospital chaplain. Thank you.
LAST WEEK’S ENVELOPE COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £3387.00
LAST WEEK’S RENOVATION COLLECTION AMOUNTED TO £942.00
The Parish Office: Please contact the parish office during office hours to arrange all Anniversary and Months Mind Masses, as well as to book Baptisms & Weddings. Please call the parish office by 12Noon on Thursdays with names for weekend Anniversary list. The Parish Office is open Monday- Friday from 9am to 2.30pm, Tel: 028-71262301 or via email at longtower@derrydiocese.org. For urgent sick calls, please use the office telephone number at all times.
We Congratulate the P.7 pupils from Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir, Nazareth House Primary School, Long Tower Primary School & Ballougry Primary School who celebrated the Sacrament of Confirmation in St Columba’s Church, Long Tower on Thursday 5th February & Friday 6th February. A special word of thanks to Fr. Pat O’Hagan & Fr. Declan Boland who officiated and to all who made the occasion so special. We hope you all had a lovely day!
‘Cloisters Café’ in Aras Cholmcille in the grounds of Long Tower Church. The café is open Tuesday – Saturday 9am to 3pm and also on Sunday’s from 10am-3pm, with Sunday breakfast being served until 12Noon and Sunday lunches being served from 12Noon-3pm.
PARISH PROGRAMME FOR LENT 2026
Lent begins on Ash Wednesday 18th February 2026
Ash Wednesday – a day of fast and abstinence – Catholics are asked to eat a maximum of one main meal and two collations (light meals) and to abstain from meat. Ashes will be blessed at the 7am Mass and distributed at the 7am, 10am and 7.30pm Masses. Please note that ashes will not be distributed at any other times and not from the Parochial House.
The Holy Land Collection will be taken up at all Masses on Ash Wednesday.
There will be a 7.00am Mass in Long Tower Church, Monday, Wednesday & Friday’s during the season of Lent, beginning Ash Wednesday 18th February and ending on Wednesday 1st April, Holy Week.
Friday Penance during Lent: (i) make a special effort at family prayer (ii) make the Stations of the Cross (iii) do something to help the poor, sick or lonely (iv) make a special effort to avail of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (v) abstain from meat or some other food.
Schedule for Stations of the Cross During Lent: Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Monday & Thursday before Evening Mass at 7.00pm. Confessions on those days will be at 6.30pm.
Lenten Vespers (Evening Prayer) with benediction on Sundays at 5.00pm during the season of Lent, beginning Sunday 22nd February.
Lectio Divina You are invited to join our Lectio Divina a 6 week, prayful preparation for Lent. It will take place upstairs, 1st floor, at Aras Cholmcille (Wee Nuns). There will be 2 sessions, one starting Monday 23rd February after 10am Mass and another on Tuesday 24th February after 7.30pm Mass. Everyone welcome but especially those seeking an introduction to explore scripture in a gentle way.
Short Term Alcohol Free Promise for Lent: During Lent we always try to engage in extra PRAYER, FASTING and ALMSGIVING. Last year quite a number of parishioners promised to stay off alcohol as an act of fasting and we hope that this will happen again in 2026. If you choose to give up alcohol we ask you to sign up to this FAST in the sacristy or in the Parish Office and to wear the special badge we have made to signify your commitment to forego alcohol for the 40 days of Lent. The suggested offering to pay for the badge is £2.00.
Walk with Me – A Journey of Prayer for Lent 2026. Booklets will be arriving soon. Cost £1.50. These booklets are a useful prayer format for the Holy season of Lent.
Trocaire Lenten Campaign 2026; As in previous years we ask you to support Trocaire throughout Lent. Trocaire boxes will be available from next weekend. Find out more at trocaire.org.
First Holy Communion dates 2026 – St Columba’s Church, Long Tower
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir will take place on Friday 15th May 2026 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Long Tower Primary School & Ballougry Primary School will take place on Thursday 21st May 2026 at 1.30pm.
First Holy Communion for P.4 pupils of Nazareth House Primary School will take place on Friday 22nd May 2026 at 1.30pm.
Aras Cholmcille Museum and Heritage Centre & Síopa Cholmcille- St Columba’s Gift Shop: The shop is open after 10am morning Mass throughout the week. We have a new range of stock to include Confirmation & First Holy Communion cards and gifts, along with cards, candles and gifts for St Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day. For all enquiries, please call -028 71368491.
Derry Diocesan Pilgrimage to Lourdes: For availability please ring 02871 260293 and leave a message or email; derrypilgrim@outlook.com. Or alternatively contact JWT Dublin on +353 1 685 2244takes place from Monday 29 June to Friday 3 July.
The Lourdes Hosptalite Collection, will take place at this weekend’s Masses 7th/8th February 2026. As in previous years, we appeal to your generosity for this worthwhile cause as we continue to provide the opportunity for people who need assistance, to travel to Lourdes.
Accord Derry Marriage Preparation Workshops: January to June 2026: January 23rd/24th, February 20th/21st, March 27th/28th, April 24th/25th, May 15th/16th & June 19th/20th. All courses are now online for booking at www.accordni.com. Please note all courses are in person. Accord Derry will NOT be facilitating courses during July or August 2026.
DEEDS – Supporting the Carer Talk Series- The second talk in our carers information sessions, funded by the WHSCT, will focus on the costs associated with Residential Care. This information session will take place at the Old Library Trust Healthy Living Centre, Central Drive, Creggan, on Thursday 26th March at 12.00 noon. Light refreshments will be provided. For further info please contact Eilish on 02871 373870 or email eilish@olt.ie.
Matt Talbot Urban Mystic – A film about venerable Matt Talbot and his journey to freedom from addiction. Showing at 7.00pm, 23rd February 2026 at Brunswick Movie Bowl. Pre-booking tickets recommended at https://www.brunswickmoviebowl.com
Does your child struggle at school? Do they have meltdowns, anxiety or refuse to go to school? Do they struggle with reading and writing? Can they concentrate in lessons? Have they been diagnosed with ADHD, ASD or are you on a waiting list for assessment? My name is Anne-Marie O’Kane and I am a neurodevelopmental therapist trained in the INPP (Institute for Neuro-Physiological Psychology) Method of Primitive Reflex Integration with a practice here in Derry. For more information, please contact me: www.kinectedmoves.com or 07546814664
Radio Maria Ireland is an Irish-run Catholic Talk-Radio Station we enjoy commercial free broadcasting – Prayer, Catechesis, Uplifting music, Talks, Interviews and Testimonies. Here’s how you can listen: Via Digital TV – Saorview Channel 210, Download our FREE App “RADIO MARIA IRELAND”, Streaming on our WEBSITE – www.radiomaria.ie ,Via our ‘Listen Live Radio’ link on our Facebook Page, Via PHONE – get live radio feed by calling +353 (0) 1 437 3277 (no extra charges apply) Why not drop a line to our Spiritual Director, Fr Des Farren by text on 089-4672000, by phone on 01-4123456.
It’s Easy To See What Alcohol Is Doing To The Drinker But Can You See What It Is Doing To You? These questions can help you identify if someone else’s drinking is affecting you. If your answer is yes, Al-Anon Family Groups can help. For further information contact the Al Anon confidential helpline on 0800 0086 811 or email helpline@al-anonuk.org.uk . Alternatively, Tel 028 9068 2368.
Rachel’s Vineyard: Have you been affected or hurt by abortion? If so, please contact Michelle on 07871765181.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Is Gambling affecting your life? Perhaps we can help. Tel 028 7135 1329.
